Yesterday, the new Republican governor returned to Ingraham's show to announce that he had delivered on his promise.

"We got that done,'' he told her. "I sent down an amendment to the budget to enact for the first time in history the Hyde Amendment in Virginia. That was a significant victory for us back in April. ... It was a great win for a pro-life cause."

A small number of abortions -- paid for with state funds -- in cases of deformities can still be performed. But McDonnell, a Catholic who has long opposed abortion, argued that the change will essentially bring Virginia in line with federal law.

Ingraham questioned McDonnell about the funding. "Any money they get ends up helping them offsets abortion services,'' she said. "It's all fungible money.''

McDonnell said he is not allowed to withhold money from Planned Parenthood -- or other Medicaid providers -- which are required by law to provide abortions and other services. "I believe we've done everything we can do,'' he said.

Officials at the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services confirm that a state can't defund any legitimate entity that receives Medicaid funding.

Planned Parenthood, which serves 30,000 women in the state a year, had been receiving about $35,000 in state funds, according to its Virginia office. Planned Parenthood enrolled providers and their associated entities received more than $275,000 in health-care claims, according to state documents.